Sony today revamped its Xplod car stereo head-end units with its first truly iPod-aware models. The GT630UI, GT430IP, GT330 and GT130 all have a USB connection that allows iPods and (for the GT630UI) iPhones to be controlled and charged through the stereo's own interface rather than the player itself. The same support also allows other MP3 players to be recognized through the digital link.
All three also mark the introduction of a scan technology dubbed ZAPPIN that Sony says will do for digital content what auto-scanning does for radios; using the option plays samples of each track in a given piece of the listener's library to give them a taste of songs and allow playing it by ear rather than text descriptions.
Every iPod-ready Xplod has an aux-in jack to support most minijack-sporting audio devices and will be available sometime in September.
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